Los Angeles County Ballot Processing and Election Updates
Los Angeles County election officials are steadily processing ballots from the primary election. Since election night, 77,521 ballots have been counted, bringing the total to nearly 1.4 million, which represents about 23.7% of registered voters. As of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, there remain 713,180 ballots to process:
- 700,000 vote-by-mail ballots
- 11,340 conditional voter registration ballots
- 1,840 provisional ballots
These vote-by-mail ballots include those postmarked by election day and received from the USPS or drop boxes. This estimate may change as more ballots arrive until next Tuesday.
Mayoral and Political Race Developments
Los Angeles’s mayoral race shows that current Mayor Karen Bass is likely to be on the November ballot. Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman are still competing to be her opponent. In the gubernatorial primary, Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra are leading. They aim to advance to the general election in November, with Becerra closing the gap as more ballots are counted.
Controversial Initiatives
In Shasta County, a measure requiring voter ID and limiting mail voting is likely to pass, prompting concerns about state law violations. If enacted, the measure would change voting procedures significantly.
Monterey Park and Other Local Votes
Monterey Park voters have decisively chosen to ban data centers. This marks the first public vote in the nation on such a ban, passing with 86% in favor. This decision aligns with broader opposition to data centers seen across various U.S. towns and counties.
Additional Observations and Impacts
The primary election results indicate shifts in political dynamics. Democrats are observed to maintain an edge as more ballots, typically Democratic-leaning, are counted. Races like California’s gubernatorial race and several congressional elections remain closely watched. These outcomes could affect the balance of power, particularly with new district maps favoring Democrats in certain areas.
In the race for California’s 34th Congressional District, Representative Jimmy Gomez will challenge Angela Gonzales-Torres in November. The race holds additional significance due to Gomez’s current investigation by the House Ethics Committee.